Folding beds



Aug. 1, 1961 A. WAGNER 2,994,093

FOLDING BEDS I Filed Nov. 5, 1958 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR 1 ADAM WAGNER By Min $212242 Attorneys A. WAGN ER FOLDING BEDS Aug. 1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 5, 1958 INVENTOR ADAM WAGNER YMQII/ flpdmin/ Attorneys A. WAG NER FOLDING BEDS Aug. 1, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 5, 1958 INVENTOR= ADAM WAGNER Attorneys A. WAGNER FOLDING BEDS Aug. 1961 Filed Novi 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v EM W M n Attorneys United States Patent 6 2,994,093 FOLDING BEDS Adam Wagner, Garbenheim, Wetzlar, Germany, assignor to August Brohl, Wetzlar, Germany Filed Nov. 3, 1953, Ser. No. 771,541 7 Claims. (Cl. -75) This invention relates to improvements in folding beds and cots such as are used or may be used to be adjusted so as to give the human body a complete restful position during convalescence, for example, or simply for resting or sleeping. One object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in the mechanisms for adjusting the head section and the leg section of the bed so that only one person may be needed to carry out the required adjustments. Thus the legs are so constructed that one of the legs may be used as an operating handle for adjusting other parts.

The invention, its detailed construction and operation will best be understood by reading the following specification together with the accompanying drawings in which- FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic illustrations of a folding bed according to this invention with the bed shown in two different positions.

FIG. 3 is a detail sectional view of the mechanism for adjusting the head section of the bed.

FIG. 4 is a similar view of the mechanism for adjusting the leg section of the bed.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 shows a modification.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line VII--VII of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the adjustable folding bed according to this invention consists of a body section 1, a head section 10 and a leg section 11. Although the drawings illustrate only the bed in side views it will be understood that the body section consists of two side members and the sections 10 and 11 are made of U- formed tubular structures. The body sections support at each end housings 12, FIG. 3-6, which enclose the several operative pivotal connections for adjusting the head and leg sections. The bed is supported on legs 4, 6 and 5, 7 pivoted in the housings 12 at 2 and 3 respectively. The legs 4 and 5 are longer than the legs 6 and 7 so that the body section 1 may be difierently inclined or supported even on an uneven floor.

The side pieces of the U-formed head section 10 and leg section 11 end in toothed segments '13, FIGS. 3 and 4. A locking lever 15 pivoted intermediate its ends at 16 has a tooth 15a adapted to engage the segment as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. A spring 14 engages the lever 15 to force its tooth 15:: into mesh with the segment. The other end of the lever =15 is formed with a nose 15b to be engaged by either of the cams 4a on the leg 4 or by the cam 6a on the leg 6.

FIG. 5 illustrates the arrangement of the pivotal connections at 2, the legs 4 being on the outside of the legs 6. This view also shows the locking lever 15 engaging the legs. The tubular structure of the several sections are indicated in the drawings.

The segment 13 carries a pin 13a which is engaged by a striking head 17 on the end of a pushing rod 18 within the tube section 1 of the body section. The rod '18 with the head 17 is forced against the pin 130 by an expansion spring 19 also within the tube 1, the head 17 having a slot 17a which moves over the pin 8 as will be understood. The head section 10 is pivoted on the pin 8. The leg section 11 is pivoted at 9, FIGS. 1. and 2. The swinging movements, outward and upward, respectively, of

the legs 4 and 6 are limited by pins 12b and 120, FIG. 3. The latter figure also shows that the bed rests upon the legs 4 at the head section end and that the head section is locked in position by the tooth 15a engaging the segment '13.

If it is now desired to adjust the head section 10 then the leg 6 is gripped as an operating handle and lifted whereby the cam 6a is moved in under the nose 15b in order to disengage the tooth 15a from the segment 13. The spring 19 then expands and forces the rod 18 with the head 17 outward against the pin 13a to move the latter to lift the head section 10*. The spring 19 is so selected that a comparatively light load on the head section 10 will compress the spring and thus the head section 10 may be more inclined.

FIG. 4 shows the leg section 11 released to be folded upon the body section 1. The cam nose 7a on the leg 7 has engaged the nose 15b on the locking lever 15 and thus the segment 13 is released from the tooth 15a. The spring 19 has expanded to force the head 17 against the pin 13a. The leg 7 in this example functions as an operating handle. The leg section 11 is then released and may be adjusted in 'diflerent positions.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an embodiment in which the legs 4 and 6 are provided with cut outs or notches 4b and 6b, respectively. The notches operate together with a locking roller 20 and the spring 14 which engages the locking lever 15 is formed to hold the roller 20 in whichever notch 4b or 6b the roller rests. When the legs are adjusted the locking roller 20 engages a corresponding notch 4b or 6b. The shape of the notches is such that the locking roller 20 remains locked in the notch in that the roller 20 then engages a surface '12e of the opening 12 of the housing 12. In order to disengage the roller 20 from either of the notches 4b or 6b there is provided a lever 21 pivoted on the axle 2 and having a notch 210 which engages the roller 20. By pressing down on the lever 21 against the force of the spring 14 the locked relation between the legs and the housing is broken.

The movement of the lever 21 may he carried out directly by taking hold of the lever or this lever may be operated by first unlocking the lever '15 and thereafter using the leg which does not function as a bed support as an operating handle in that said leg is then raised to move the lever 21. The leg which is not used as a support for the bed engages the roller 20 with a suitable surface portion 60 or 40, respectively and may therefore be used as an operating handle tor releasing the roller 20. If so desired, the leg not used has to be moved down. It is sufiicient if this mechanism is provided on only one side of the bed because it only serves to prevent accidental displacement of the legs.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is disclosed and described as being used on only one side of the bed. It may of course be used on both sides but such duplication is not illustrated. Further, the support legs 5 and 7 are provided with blocking and actuating means in the same manner as disclosed and described in view of the legs 4 and 6. Therefore, in the drawings, the blocking and actuating means of the legs 5 and 7 corresponding to such of the legs 4 and 6 are indicated by analogous indices as used in view of the legs 4 and 6.

Further modifications are possible. For example, more than two support legs of diflerent lengths may be associated with each hinge housing. Also, the support legs may be hinged on the bed or bed frame separate from the housings. Furthermore, the support legs may removably be connected with its pivots.

I claim:

1. In a folding bed, the combination which comprises: a main section; an end section pivotably connected to said main section; locking means for preventing pivotal movement of said end section relative to said main section; and a plurality of combined lock operating and leg means mounted in the region of the pivotal connection between said sections, said combined lock operating and leg means being of different lengths and each combined means being movable into a supporting position wherein the respective combined means serves as a means for supporting said folding bed in said region, each combined means also being adapted to enter into such operative association with said locking means as to form means for releasing the same so as to allow pivoting of said end section relative to said main section, whereby a combined lock operating and leg means which at any given instant does not serve as a support for the folding bed may be used as a lock operating means for releasing said locking means. 1

2. In a folding bed, the combination which comprises: a main section; an end section pivotably connected to said main section; locking means for preventing pivotal movement of said end section relative to said main section; and a plurality of combined lock operating and leg means pivotably mounted in the region of the pivotal connection between said sections, said combined lock operating and leg means being of different lengths and each combined means being pivota-ble into a supporting position wherein the respective combined means serves :as a means for supporting said folding bed in said region, each combined means also being pivotable into such operative association with said locking means as to form means for releasing the same so as to allow pivoting of said end section relative to said main section, whereby a combined lock operating and leg means which at any given instant does not serve as a support for the folding bed may be used as a lock operating means for releasing said locking means.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 further comprising abutment means for limiting pivoting of the respective combined lock operating and leg means to a position wherein each such combined means is in its respective supporting position.

4. The combination defined in claim 2 further comprising retaining means for retaining the respective combined lock operating and leg means in its respective supporting position.

5. The combination defined in claim 2 further comprising spring means operatively associated with said end section for continuously urging the same into an extreme position upon release of said locking means.

6. A folding bed comprising, in combination: a main section; a head section pivotably connected to the head end of said main section; first locking means for preventing pivotal movement of said head section relative to said main section; a plurality of first combined lock operating and leg means mounted in the region of the pivotal connection between said main and head sections, said first combined lock operating and leg means being of different lengths and each first combined means being movable into a supporting position wherein the respective first combined means serves as a means for supporting the folding bed in said region, each first combined means also being adapted to enter into such operative association with said first locking means as to form means for releasing the same so as to allow pivoting of said head section relative to said main section; a foot section pivotably connected to the foot end of said main section; second locking means for preventing pivotal movement of said foot section relative to said main section; and a plurality of second combined lock operating and leg means mounted in the region of the pivotal connection between said main and foot sections, said second combined lock operating and leg means being of different lengths and each second combined means being movable into a supporting position wherein the respective second combined means serves as a means for supporting the folding bed in said last-mentioned region, each'second combined means also being adapted to enter into such operative association with said second locking means as to form means for releasing the same so as to allow pivoting of said foot section relative to said main section, whereby a combined lock operating and leg means which at any given instant does not serve as a support for the folding bed may be used as a lock operating means for releasing the corresponding locking means.

7. A folding bed as defined in claim 6 further comprising spring means common to said head and foot sections for continuously urging each into an extreme position upon release of the corresponding locking means.

References Cited in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 298,065 Bush May 6, 1884 1,032,541 Gregory July 16, 1912 1,366,330 Mackie Jan. 18, 1921 1,709,137 Loxley Apr. 16, 1929 2,361,853 Lundquist Oct. 31, 1944 2,636,794 Sternkopf Apr. 28, 1953 2,708,276 Schloss May 17, 1955 2,911,245 Kurz Nov. 3, 1959 

